PRODUCT SHOWCASE
Tektronix TSG95 Pathfinder
PAL/NTSC signal generator
In the past, Tektronix has been renowned for
its tele­vision test equipment intended for use in
broadcast stations but it has had little to offer
TV maintenance and installation tech­nicians.
Now, in a significant move, it has produced the
TSG95 Pathfinder, a complete PAL/NTSC signal
generator.
The TSG95 is a handheld instrument with a two-line liquid crystal
display and it can be powered from
internal batteries or an external mains
12V plugpack.
The generator’s outputs are 1V
composite video via a BNC socket and
audio left and right channels via 3-pin
XLR sock­ets. For PAL, 20 different signals can be selected and for NTSC, 16
signals. For PAL, the available signals
include the following: 75% & 100%
colour bars, 75% & 100% bars over red,
red, blue and green fields, multiburst,
5-step gray scale and conver­
gence
(crosshatch).
For NTSC, the available signals include: SMPTE bars, multi­burst, NTC7
composite and combination, 5-step
gray scale, FCC composite and black
burst. The available audio signals comprise 13 tones from 50Hz to 20kHz or a
sweep signal selectable from the tone
menu. Three tone levels are available
(0, +4dBu & 8dBu) and an audio click
sequence can be selected as an aid in
identifying the left and right channels
in an installation.
A unique feature is character ID.
Up to eight messages, each containing two 16-character lines, may be
stored for later re­call. One message
may be inserted into the video test
signal and up to four may be cycled
into the test signal in a continuous
loop (displaying each message for 1-9
seconds). Creating the ID is simply a
matter of typing it in using the alpha-
These are two of the PAL TV patterns available. At left is
the convergence (crosshatch) pattern, while at right is the
86 Silicon Chip
numeric keypad; there is no need to
scroll through the alphabet for each
character.
We’ve used the instrument and
found that it works well and would
100% bars over red pattern. Note that the TSG95 identifier
can be turned off if necessary.
be just the ticket for anyone with a
need for a selection of TV patterns and
audio signals from a small handheld
instru­ment. Our sample test pattern
photos include the TSG95 identifier
but this may be turned off if desired
Fluke’s first autoranging DSO
Fluke has introduced a digital
storage oscilloscope (DSO) which
features fully autoranging atten­
uators and timebase. The new
PM3394A CombiScope oscilloscope is part of the CombiScope
family of instruments that combine
digital storage with an analog oscilloscope.
The autoranging innovation is
part of Fluke’s commitment to
make test instruments easier to use.
Fully autoranging attenua­tors and
timebase enhance and may even
supersede Autoset, a feature common on most oscilloscopes. Auto­
set operates only once when the
corresponding button is pressed,
while autoranging operates continuously on both the attenuators
and timebase to maintain an optimal signal display even when the
signal changes.
A TM5320 digital signal processor running at 40MHz ensures
that the PM3394A has an almost
instantaneous response to signal
changes. The PM3394A has three
processors dedicated to different
instrument functions. This means
that mathematics and autoranging
features, for example, do not slow
down other parameters, such as
the response to changes in control
panel settings.
Probing a circuit with the new
PM3394A is easier than ever before. During troubleshooting, the
– just one of the many selections
available.
The Tektronix TSG95 Pathfinder
is priced at $1595 plus sales tax. For
further information, contact Tektronix
toll free on (008) 02 3342.
user can probe test points while
concentrating on the circuit and
not on the operation of the scope.
The PM3394A allows the user
to keep both hands on the work
without reaching for the attenuator
or timebase controls every time an
adjustment is necessary.
Autoranging works simultaneously on more than one channel.
Input and output signals are continuously tracked and displayed on
screen. A special windows display
mode ensures that traces remain in
an allocated screen area. This gives
a clear non-overlapping view of
each trace while maintaining high
vertical resolution for detailed
measurement results.
The autoranging
time­­ base has two
modes of operation:
the traditional 1-2-5
step mode and the
variable timebase
mode, which maintains the same num­
ber of signal periods
on screen. This is
achiev­ed by a variable
sample clock, not just
a rescaling of the display.
The new series consists of two
4-channel models with 100MHz
and 200MHz bandwidths (PM­
3384A and PM3394A), and two
“2+2” channel models, again with
100MHz and 200MHz bandwidths
(PM3382A and PM3392A).
All models have a serial interface
for hard copy and PC communications as standard. A GPIB/IEEE
488.2 interface can be specified
as an option. The GPIB interface
supports remote con­trol commands
that conform to the new industry-standard SCPI protocols (Standard Commands for Programmable
Instruments).
For further information, contact
Philips Scientific & Industrial, 34
Waterloo Rd, North Ryde, NSW
2113. Phone (02) 888 8222.
November 1994 87
Reference with low
knee current
GEC has a new range of 3.3V
high-precision references that have a
typical knee current as low as 15µA
with a typical temperature coefficient
of 15ppm/°C.
Using a bandgap design, the
SRC330 provides a stable 3.3V reference without the need for an external
stabilising capacitor. The SRC330 has
an operating temperature range of
-40°C to 85°C, with a current range
of 20µA to 5mA.
The reference is available in a low
profile SOT-23 surface mount package
as well as standard 2-pin and 3-pin TO92 formats with a choice of tolerance
rating of ±3, ±2 and ±1%.
For further information, contact
GEC Electronics Division, Unit 1,
38 South St, Rydalmere, NSW 2116.
Phone (02) 638 1888.
Versatile stereo mixer
for discos
Designed for mixing stereo sources
together, this unit has been tailored to
meet the needs of discos and dance
K
ALEX
The UV People
ETCH TANKS
● Bubble Etch ● Circulating
LIGHT BOXES
● Portuvee 4 ● Portuvee 6
● Dual Level
TRIMMER
● Ideal
PCB DRILL
● Toyo HiSpeed
MATERIALS
● PC Board: Riston, Dynachem
● 3M Label/Panel Stock
● Dynamark: Metal, Plastic
✸ AUSTRALIA’S NO.1 STOCKIST ✸
K
ALEX
40 Wallis Ave, East Ivanhoe 3079.
Phone (03) 9497 3422, Fax (03) 9499 2381
88 Silicon Chip
parties. There are four stereo inputs,
three for phono or line inputs (switch­
able) and one which accepts signals
from a tape deck or CD player (switchable). A 7-band graphic equaliser can
be switched in to tailor the sound to
suit the venue. The case is a standard
19-inch rack size so that it can be easily
mounted in disco consoles or racks.
Illuminated stereo VU meters monitor
the output levels.
Headphones can be used to individually monitor inputs while cueing
up, before adding the input to the
mix. A crossfader allows fading between any of the stereo inputs. There
are two microphone inputs, one a
local input with a talk-over switch
that drops the music level while the
DJ is talking. The front panel has a
goose-neck mounting plate to make
mic placement over the console easy.
The second mic input has a low-cut
switch to reduce the possibility of
feedback into the microphone at high
volume.
Connections are made via the rear
panel. Microphone inputs use 6.5mm
phone sockets and the stereo inputs
and outputs use RCA sockets. Finished
in powder coated black enamel, the
mixer re­tails for $379 (Cat AM-4216).
For more information, contact the
Jaycar Electronics store closest you.
Radio telemetry
with phone/fax
phone based alterna­tives, especially
in remote areas.
For up-market applications, the
range of USA-sourced Proxim 900MHz
242Kbits/s wireless modems has been
expanded to include 2.4GHz 1.6M­bit/s
units and a range of OEM card level
products for engineering clients wishing
to integrate spread spectrum technol­ogy
into their systems.
For further information, contact
McLean Automation, PO Box 70,
Freemans Reach, NSW 2756. Phone
(045) 796 365.
McLean Automation has continued
to expand the telemetry side of their
short haul, licence exempt, radio link
technology. Their Australian sourced
‘Local Knowledge’ low-speed half-duplex wireless RS232 link now has the
option of an inbuilt Austel approved
phone/fax modem. This makes the
units more suitable for tele­servicing
and data logging applications where
the host or remote systems are not
within cabling distance of a PSTN outlet.
The internal phone/
fax card means the
system can be pro­
gramm­
ed to dial out
reports from a remote
radio-linked site to a
fax mach­ine or E-mail
equipp­
ed host. This
integrated solution
is a cost effective alternative to cellular
Removable hard
disc drives
Teac have a new dual docking bay that fits into a standard
5.25-inch drive slot. The kit
comes with one removable
drive, with a second available
as an option. Drive capacities
vary from 250-540Mb, giving
the docking bay a total capacity of 1.08Gb, with an IDE
interface.
Having a removable drive
means that data can now be
locked away at night. While
in use, the drive can be locked
into the docking bay, preventing unauthorised removal.
Dual slots allow a second drive
to be inserted to backup data in
far less time than a tape backup. The second slot can also
be used with multiple discs
to provide mass storage for
CAD and desktop publishing
packages.
A carrying case lined with
foam is supplied to protect
the drive while in transit.
Data can thereby easily be
transported without fear of
damage.
The removable drives have
no exposed circuit boards and
may be inserted or removed
while the machine is still running. The driver software supplied with the kit takes care of
the problems asso­ciated with
the operating system finding
out that the hard disc has been
removed.
For more information, contact Rick Stanford at Southend
Data Storage, PO Box 25, Menai, NSW 2234. Phone (02)
541 1006.
Yokogawa’s
pocket DMM
Yokogawa has released a new
pocket-sized digital multimeter
which has a 3200 count and bargraph display. The ultra compact
size and one hand operation, along
with data hold, auto ranging, auto
power off and a high speed sampling (12 times/sec for bar­graph),
makes this meter convenient and
versatile. The battery compartment
is easily accessible and it uses
standard button cells. Measuring
functions include DC & AC volts,
resistance, continuity and diode
test.
For further information on the
Model 7536 03 Pocket Digital
Multimeter, contact Yokogawa
Australia, 25 Paul St North, North
Ryde, NSW 2113. Phone (02) 805
0699.
November 1994 89